Riley

When we hatched, my sister and I had all of 5 minutes of fresh, clean air and blessed silence, before the cave we were in collapsed. Deafening crashes sounded all around us, falling rocks and gravel throwing up huge plumes of dust that left us coughing and unable to see. I didn’t know how we survived the cave-in at all – it was a miracle in itself that somehow, the rocks fell just so that we had a tiny nook to cram ourselves in. The biggest injuries we sustained were a few knocks to the head by falling debris. Almost just as quickly, the rumbling and shaking died away.

And then there was nothing but dead silence.

The both of us climbed out of the rubble, helping each other as much as we could. Being Imperials, it was a blessing that we weren’t too tiny to push away the rocks, even as newborns. We clambered out, and gazed out upon the crumbled ruins that was our home.

Was. But not anymore.

We wandered across the Scarred Wasteland, searching as far and wide as we could manage with our little legs. Where were our parents? Days passed, but we found nothing, except for a pack of hungry Mirrors who saw us as free snacks. Not for the first time, I was miraculously lucky to escape with my life – my sister and I instinctively bolted, but unfortunately in opposite directions. I hid myself inside the rotted trunk of a fallen tree and survived, but I would never know what fate had befallen my sister. We’d lost our home, we’d lost our parents. Before that moment we were all the other had, and now that I had lost my sister too, I felt that I had lost everything.

Since then, I hated the Plaguelands for all it had taken from me.

Refusing to die in this place, I pressed on, scavenging wherever I could and eating whatever was edible so I could survive. The only thought in my head was to escape this accursed land and the influence of the Plaguebringer, for I would not serve a deity that allowed such tragedy to befall a mere young and innocent hatchling. Once I escaped the Wasteland, I swore, I would never again turn back.

I was a pitiful sight by the time I made it into Wind territory – if I were any smaller, or indeed, any other species, I might not even have survived the journey. I was starving, ribs jutting out from my sides, and the cuts and scrapes I had accumulated were infected and starting to fester. Stubbornly I stumbled on, not even sure what more I was looking for, as long as I was away from the Plaguelands, as far away as I could go on my ungainly feet. But soon enough, my body gave out, and I collapsed, unable to go any further. Despite everything, I was still merely a hatchling, and the distances Imperials were said to be able to cross came only with age, and with the gaining of our wings. I didn’t know how long I lay there, drifting in and out of consciousness, wondering if this was the end for me. I only woke to the sound of a gentle voice, and a touch on my shoulder.

“Are you alright? Do you need me to help you get home?”

Looking up, I saw a Tundra standing over me, concern in his earthy brown eyes. “No,” I croaked weakly, somewhat surprised that someone would be willing to help me instead of eat me. “Don’t want… to go home. Not my home. No home.” Home? The Wasteland was no home. I had no home after what it had taken from me. I would rather die than go back there again.

“Ah…” His eyes softened. “In that case… would you like to stay with us in Clan Rush? We live on a safe island blessed by the Windsinger, and we always have room for dragons in need. I can bring you there. We’ll take care of you.”

At the time my eyes were as wide as saucers. Miracle upon miracle seemed to be happening to me. Perhaps some deity out there took pity on me after all. I nodded gratefully, and let the Tundra help me to my feet. “My name’s Scott,” the Tundra said, as I shuffled along next to him. “What’s yours?”

I blinked up at him. “No name,” I mumbled. “Never been given a name.”

“Oh dear.” Scott looked genuinely sorry for me. “But that’s alright, that means you get to pick your own.” He grinned. “How does ‘Riley’ sound?” I pondered it for a moment, turning it over in my head. Riley. It sounded quite nice. I nodded, a small smile growing on my face. “Great! And here we are, Riley, the island’s just a small flight away. Can you make it?” Scott pointed, and I could see a truly beautiful island not too far away. Now if only I knew how to fly. “I can’t fly,” I said mournfully. “I don’t know how to.”

Scott waved dismissively with a smile. “Oh, that’s fine. We have a system here for clan members who can’t fly. We do occasionally get hatchlings and we have Trent too, they’d need some other way to get in and out. Follow me.” He led me to an outcrop a little further down the coast, and murmured something. Almost immediately, a rainbow bridge appeared, and I stared in awe as it spanned the stretch of water to connect at the coast of the island. “Here we go,” Scott said happily, and trotted over with me on his heels.

The clan healer, Rain, treated my wounds and fed me some fruits. Bandaged and feeling a little better, I let Scott bring me along with him to see the benevolent kings of the island, who I soon learned were called King Kendall and King Nate. Scott urged me to tell them my story, which wasn’t too long as I was hardly a week old, and so I did. Both of them were distraught at hearing my story, and offered me a home with them, which I accepted more than happily enough.

xxx

A few months later…

“That’s right, Riley, you got it! Just keep that position!”

I flapped, and kept my wings out, gliding smoothly across the air currents. Beside me, Austin swooped in close, a grin on his face. Austin was a great teacher. Thanks to him, I finally knew how to fly properly. Giving him a bashful grin, I landed gracefully, and turned to face him when he, too, landed next to me.

“Thanks so much,” I breathed, glowing with happiness. Austin grinned, the grin that made him look devastatingly handsome, and leaned in to nuzzle my cheek. My past seemed so far away in the light of my new family and mate, and I figured that Clan Rush was all I ever needed.
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Bio by Kaolyn based on my idea and the idea he came with when bought.